The Minister for Health, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, will chair the fourth Strategic Coordinating Group on Friday 15th December to review progress on identifying the source of infection of the Legionnaires Disease infections.

The Director of Public Health, Helen Carter, who is leading the investigation, has proposed three potential sources that are being investigated by the Environmental Agency. These have been developed following interviews with the cases, their families and friends, reviewing in detail where they visited and what they did during their incubation periods.

The first potential source is concurrent simultaneous infections in all 4 cases’ homes. Whilst this is unlikely, water samples have been taken to rule out this as the source of all 4 infections. The other two potential sources are a common static source that all cases have walked past or a common mobile source, such as a vehicle. 

It usually takes approximately 10 days for environmental water sample results to be processed, as the bacterial cultures need to be grown in a lab. 

The Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said: 'Legionnaire’s Disease is caused by inhaling aerosols of water droplets containing the bacteria. You can’t catch it from drinking water or from another person. I am working closely with the Environmental Agency who have undertaken extensive inspections to try and identify a potential source. In the meantime, there are actions we can all take to protect ourselves including running taps for 2 minutes if your home has been empty or unused for 7 days or more and ensuring your car screen wash contains a proper car wash fluid and not tap water. If you feel unwell and become short of breath, have a fever or cough, please call 111 for a clinical assessment.' 

The Minister for Health, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: 'I am closely monitoring the progress of the investigation and I am in daily contact with the Director of Public Health regarding this. We will review progress formally at the SCG on Friday.’